Torpedo firing pistol



2,051,564 IIUDICIAL J. MARRA AND M. M. MARRA, NOW BY CHANGE OF DAME J. MARS AND M. MARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 18,

RPEDO FIRNG- PISTOL Filed July 1, 1932.

3 www 75:3 ep/v /Varz e M Marra Aug. 18, 1936. 2,051 564 J. MARRA AND M. M. MARRA, NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME J. MARS AND M. M. MARS TORPEDO FIRING PISTOL Filed July l, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 PATENT ori-ICE TORPEDO FIRING PISTOL YJoseph Marra and Marie M. Marra., Elkton, Md., now by judicial change of name `loseph Mars and Marie M. Mars n Application July 1,` 1932, Serial No. 620,474

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a new and useful pyrotechnic device for exploding toy torpedoes and the like and has particular relation p to a pistol-type torpedo shooter which consists ini the combinations, constructions and arrangements-herein described and claimed;

Generally, the invention consists in a device for firing of torpedoes which device is similar in A general appearance to the automatic pistol, but

which embodies distinct features not heretofore known inthis art.- 1

The primarybbjectof the invention is to provide a device 'ofthis kind which will insure a maximum of safety and will at the same time provide a device which will be simple in its operation and be capable of being produced at very low cost.

It should be stated that any kind of ordinary toy torpedo may be utilized in the present invention, even those which do not embody the usual agglutinating material, such as wood flour, paper dust, confetti, etc., which improved torpedoes are considerably more costly than those not having these agglutinants.

While the primary object of the invention is to provide safety to the person firing the torpedo and bystanders, it is worthy of note that the device is also very well adapted to the testing of toy torpedoes at manufacturing plants, where, in the past, many workmen have been injured when testing such articles.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended'claim.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device, partly broken away;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the Same;

a longitudinal tubular barrel I IJ slidably mounted in an encircling handle or gripped portion II wherein is horizontally mounted a wire spring I2 which passes through an opening (not shown) in a catch member I3 slidably mounted in a guide member I4 which is permanently aiiixed to the barrel I0 as indicated at I5.

The spring I2 also passes through an opening (not shown) in one end of a bell crank type trigger I6 as indicated at the trigger being pivoted upon a bearing I8 in the handle |I.

Within the barrel I0 is reciprocably. mounted a rod I9 having at its forward end a hammer 20 and at its rear end a coc-king handle 2|. Permanently aixed to the rod I3 at a point intermediate its ends is a cylindrical latch member 22 having a circumferential groove 23.

The rear end of the barrel I0 is provided with a washer type bearing 24 and a similar member 25 is permanently affixed within the barrel at a point forwardly of the latch member 22. A coil spring 26 surrounds the rod I9 and bears against the rear of the hammer 20 and against the member 25 and normally tends to force the hammer 20 forwardly. A stop 21 is rigidly attached to the handle II and extends through a slot 28 cut in the barrel ID and is normally in contact with the latch member 22. A ring chamber 30 is threaded upon the front end of the barrel III and is provided with a short downwardly extending nozzle 3| which is open at its bottom as indicated at 32.

'Ihe ring chamber 30 is provided with a heavy firing plate 32 at its front end.

The barrel has a loading opening cut in its top side as indicated at 33 and a small opening 34 is provided in the barrel at a point immediately forward of the member 25.

In operation, the grip |I is held in. one hand of the user and the cooking handle 2| is pulled rearwardly until the catch I 3 engages the groove 23 of the latch member 22. As the handle 2| is drawn back, the hammer 20 will, of course, also be retracted and the spring 26 will be compressed between the hammer and the member 25 and the air in the barrel in the space rst occupied by the spring will be released through the opening 34.

The grip II is then pushed forwardly to the position shown in Figure 3.

The device is now ready for loading and a torpedo is placed in the barrel through the opening 33 and the device is fired in the manner of the ordinary pistol, by pressing the trigger I6, which causes the spring I2 to move downwardly,

2 Y {thus causing the" downward movement of the `catch YI3 in the guide member I4, due to theV @downward distortion of thev spring I2, whichV VpassesV through the catch I3 as above described, l

By Vmeans ofthe energystored inthe spring 26 a Y will be forced to take a downward path throug'ifli the Vopening 32. Any recoily will be taken upVY thus causing the release of the rod I9.

violent forward movement. of the hammer 20 imn'iediatelyV takes: place, thus causing thel torpedo toi-be Virripiriggfe'd between'` the hammerV `and the striking plate .32 and thus fired. The particles ,of gravel usually found in toy torpedoes functionally Vbetweenethe barrel Illv and the slidablegrip II as the barrel-isfiorced backwardly by the shock. F Y

In the modied forms'shown inligures 4 tov 7,

the only material'differences'iin construction are the .provision of a pair of circumferentialridges Yfor limiting the'sliding-Kmovemen't of :the grip?. portion 3K3V and;4 themoded form Y ofltrigger. mechanism. -The trigger mechanism .consists ot a-verticallatch member 3l slidably mounted in the ,grip .35 andl being pressed 'upwardlyJay; a c ilgespring.313; A pair 'of dogs 3,9 are preferably the .springY 3,8, the lowerr Vendv loi which spring bearslagainst the interiorrof thev grip 36 in any welll'known. manner.v A trigger 401s pivotally mounted within vthe .gri-plA 36 as indicated` at 4I'V and `has its `other end `forked as shown atr4.2 and 'slidably mounted' between the dogs 39. The

made int'e'gralfwthllatch member 53-'I and the o lower of Ythese serves asav bearing or .stopY for invention or the scope of' the appendedjclaim.

` We claimt.Y

-A torpedo-ring device consisting of Ya barrel .havingfa fir-ing chamber at the front end thereof and'V a Vdownwardly pointing open nozzle in communication with the iiring chamber, a ring 'lpiatefmomtedf'atthe front end of the firing chamber, a hammer slidably mounted in the barre1, arspringi-'niounted in the barrel and adapted .torurge the hammer into contact with the plate,

a Yhand-le attached l to the hammer and projectingY rearwardly through'vfthe barrel,V a latch mechanism for :holding the haminerrin retracted position, a Vlfiandfgripjsleidably mounted YonY the barrel andra trigger actuated releaseforV .the

latch.. mechanismA mounted' in the grip, said release consisting .of a detent fornengaging the latch and slidably mounted uponv aVV flexible wire carriedA by the .hand grip in parallel relation to the'barrel,andV a bell crank type trigger having one end attached to the wire.V Y

JQSEPH MAREA. MARIE: M. MARRA. 

